I’ve never been a massive fan of the classic beat ’em up games, but I’m not opposed to diving in now and then for ones that promise something particularly special. I think it’s safe to say that, for this horror-loving girl, Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is absolutely an exception to my usual pattern of beat-em-up avoidance. 

Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is the official game of the Terrifier franchise, developed by Relevo. With pixel art graphics (literally, in the case of Art the Clown) and an extraordinary amount of gore on display as you fight your way through the town to prevent filming from happening, I can’t help but love this old-school beat ’em up gem. 

The star of the show

Look, I can’t rightfully write this without sharing some love for Art the Clown and everything that the twisted killer does with such dark humor. Every section of the level begins with Art showing up on his now infamous tricycle (still one of my favorite GIFs to use at random), and he is singularly talented when it comes to bizarre and darkly funny deaths. 

Art the Clown in pixel format is just as lovable as the movie version of him. Yes, I know that he’s a killer and he should not be a fan-favorite character, but he is. Terrifier has become a cult classic, and I’ve said myself that it was the first truly unique horror movie to be released in years. 

Terrifier is one of my favorite films of all time, and I literally screamed when I found out a game was coming. And now here I am writing about it as part of my work. Hashtag blessed and all that. 

Okay, I’ll be professional now. 

A bloodbath of a beat ‘em up

I’ll be frank, this is not a game that would be suitable for young players, although if you’re willingly allowing your children to even acknowledge the existence of the Terrifier franchise at all, then I have some serious questions about your judgment. It’s also probably not suitable if you’re even remotely squeamish. Sure, the art style is pixelated, but that doesn’t stop the shock when an eyeball splats against the screen or a brain gets exposed after a well-timed hit with a spiked baseball bat. 

With all that said, if you’ve got a strong disposition and you enjoy that retro beat ‘em up gameplay, you’ll enjoy this even if you aren’t generally a fan of Terrifier, although it definitely helps if you are invested in the franchise. Slowly making your way from left to right, beating your way through waves of enemies that approach, and strategically avoiding obstacles are all at the heart of the experience. 

The demo lets you play through the first level of the game, with Art (or your chosen character) going on a murderous rampage through the streets to try and stop the filming of a new installment of the franchise. You have a fast and light attack, a slow and heavy attack, and a special attack that needs to recharge. You can also pick up dropped weapons to use against your victims, and there are a couple of ‘finisher moves’ that can be used on stunned enemies. 

I have to mention the soundtrack. I just can’t not mention it. Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is filled from start to finish with heavy metal chiptune music that absolutely slaps, and this game is one of the rare ones that actually made me want to turn up the volume. There’s something really gratifying about blasting through cops, builders, and a cameraman boss with an absolute banger of a tune blaring through the speakers. 

Multiplayer carnage

Terrifier: The ARTcade Game does not need to be enjoyed alone. Eventually, the full game will allow for up to four people to join forces and roam the streets in search of blood. The demo allows for one friend to join you on your murderous rampage, which would presumably make the entire experience both more chaotic and enjoyable. 

Even better, or worse, depending on how you look at it, is the fact that you can enable friendly fire within the settings. Let’s be honest, it’s only a matter of time before one of you takes an accidental swipe at one of your fellow players, and then it’s all downhill from there, isn’t it? The actual enemies might as well be on the sidelines, confused expressions on their faces, wondering why you’ve all suddenly turned on each other. 

Playing solo doesn’t feel any less satisfying or entertaining, though. Sure, you miss out on some of the multiplayer chaos, but it does mean that you get full control over every fight and you get to decide how much carnage you want to create.  

The demo of Terrifier: The ARTcade Game is now available to download and play through Steam as part of October’s Steam Next Fest. There isn’t a release date for the full game just yet, although hopefully more information will be coming soon, because I can’t wait to play with Art some more!